Philippe Venet Mademoiselle

Very woody, resinous, and tobacco infused, with loads of oakmoss. No sweetness and little that is floral; mostly dark woods, strong medicinal herbs, and a rich animalic base. Civet at the least, perhaps castoreum, very dark and basso profundo. Leathery, a very tannic leather, a little bitter. Dry, not buttery leathery. A very subtle lily of the valley accentuates the greener notes of the resins; still not sweet, and fortunately not soapy. No powdery notes. So, easier to say what it is not: powdery, soapy, fresh, sweet. It is none of these things. It is a potent brew of dark dry woods and herbs, sophisticated, not really warm, even with the civet and amber, there is something austere and reserved about this one. I feel as though I am in an olfactory echo chamber of sorts, with my perfume setting me apart from everyone else. The wood is not creamy or soft, it does not seem like sandalwood, rather something dark, and dense and heavy. There is a very subtle blood red rose note in the heart, but again, this rose is not powdery or sweet or velvety, rather it is like a single long stemmed rose in a vase of old water. And maybe someone used the vase as an ashtray, and dropped a cigarette in the vase. However, it draws compliments like crazy. My spouse loves it on me, in that unreserved, OMG, what are you wearing? way that I love to hear. I do not see this as sexy, but apparently others do.

OMG, I used to wear this frag. Would get so many compliments! It was quite unique. I'd LOVE to find it again. Although I'm sure it would cost the earth. Or worse, it would be (shudders) reformulated.